Stranding machine



, 1930. A. F. CLEMENTS STRANDING MACHINE May 6 4 Sheets-Shem" 1 Filed Sept 13, 1927 May 6, 1930.

A. F. CLENi ENTS 4 1,757,653

STRANDING MACHINE Filed sept. 13. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1930. A. F. CLEMENTS 1,757,653

eeeeeeeeeeeee 3 May 6, 1930. A. F. cLEMENTs STRANDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 13. 1927 Patented May 6, 1930- Uire1 s'r A BER'r r. cnnian v rs; or osi xosrrgfwiscoivsm,AssIGNoaro warps CAEQEPL gym;

JPANY, Q HK QQNSIH a sr amleli 'e f w e tsln s'r'n iivnrne MACHINE- Application filed September13,1 9 27.a .Seria1-1 Io .219 ,249.

T he machine of the present invention is primarily constructed for the purpose of coiling together the two constituents of a broad, flat rug strand of special design employed. in

" the building of a spirally wound rug. A

strand of this special character comprises two constituent sections, each of which is preferably, though not necessarily,in the form of a broad flat section: hraided upon a double 19 core, as shown and described in application Serial Norl'lehfiO filedl /larch 11, 1927.

In the coiling together of flat strands of this character, it is necessary to impart a partial reverse twist to each of the constitu- 5 ents of the completed strand coincidental with the coiling of the constituent sections wound upon each other with the result that each t an s ti wi l on i ou ly m i tain the same side up, despite the orbital travel of thetwo strandzs-ections through the openings in the coiler head. This results in a completed strand which the sections are.

bent back and forth over and under each other without being themselves axially twisted, and

the presentinvention is designed toprovide means for mparting to the coiler heads are-i verserotation as compared with the orbital travel of the heads around a common can:

tel; g i

The invention also relates to the means provided for imparting the necessary tension to carry forward the completed strand and to compel-the constituent portions thereof to assume the side to side and up and down 1111-- dulations required to lay the constituent sections of the strand over andunder one an-* other Without ing movement.

Further details will appear from a'description of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings whereiniartalzin of an axial, twist 1 y. I

Figure l is front elevationof a duplicate machine involving the features of thepresent invention; i

Fig. 2 is a vertical I ofthe turntables with the two coiler heads mounted thereon; V V

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the turntable showing the driving gears for the turntable sectional 7 detail of one nd he seati g for impar ing.- r ve rota:

t enteth ce le ead ;-11 a :Els-A s a n e eva i n o th n aehin wing e dr ing t in fortheturatahi i dlferthe n e fee v E se 5 1s a detai showns he ens eafeed; n dju tab ten i n uides; I

F sis a ail showing. the-emanates a t a i' a r t ering: the tu ntable when the spools become empty he machine, asisho Rig; 1 is ad pli st mach ne e mprisins. two strandin u it of p s y i ar. co struc ion, so 7 t it l d r d hat; the dese hn 5 3. o -the' n appli equally to,

the other, although for purposes ofeonv'en-i i d by o r l g The b l plate, shown, provides amounting for a pair of,

tu n a es .2, a h 'w i ro a es aro ndan upstanding'hub 14 of, a fixed centerpin ion 20 clamped to the bed plate by a center b01513, Each of the turntables is provided with ali'circum'ferential rim 15 provided with exterior gear teeth '16 which are driven through spur gears'l7, 18and19, as shown in detail in'Fig S. v V

The .fiXed pinion20' meshes on each side with an idler pinion 21, which in turn meshes with acoiler head pinion 22 fixedly mounted upon a stub shaft 23 which carries thecoiler head 24. Thearrangement shown constitutes a planetary gear system, and since the gears plete reverse rotation imparted to each of the coiler'head pinions so that the coiler heads willrevolve around a common center without imparting'any twist to the strand cablescarried by the coiler heads,

wardly extending arm25 which carries a boss 26 which carries aspindle27. .The boss 26 affords a mounting for a spool platform 28. which is rotatablymounted uponthe spindle Each coilerihead 24 is provided with an in- '22 and-21 are. of equal diameter, and equal .isstranded by the machine until the upper 27, and the platform affords a base or support upturned tooth 32 of a dog 33 which is :piV- 'oted on a pin 34 carried between cars 35 upstanding from an angleplate 36 carried bythe arm 25. The angle plate afiords a mounting for an upstanding guide plate 37 which carries a slide Weight 38 provided near its lower end with a pair of forwardly ex-,

tending ears 39 carrying a pin 40 which journals a roller 41, around which is carried the cable '42 leading from thespool and passing upwardly through a guide lug 43 at the upper end of the guide bar 37.

The cable passes through'anaperture 44 in'the guide bar and thence is looped under the roller 41, so that the cable will be subjected to the tension of thelweight which will lie-gradually drawn upwardly as the cable end of the weight'is lifted to a point where it will engage with a loop 45 which surrounds the guide bar37, which loop connects with a draw rod 46 leading to the forward end of the dog 33, so that as soon as the weight is drawn up sufficiently by the stranding of the cable to lift the loop 45 and exert a pull Vonthe draw rod 46, the toothed rear end of the. dog will be thrown down to release a tooth'on the platform 31, thereby permitting the unspooling of a short length of the cable and a concurrent drawing down of the 7 "weight, so that a tension will be constantly maintained despite the intermediate feeding of the cable from the spool. 7 V

Each of the two spoolsis provided with this kind of a release or escapement'mechaf nism, and the two cables'fed from the companion spools are carried upwardly in converging relation, as in Fig. 1, and brought together immediatel 'infront of a cross rod 47', which is carried g from a cross beam 49- supported upon uprights 50 which spring from the'table '10 at. opposite ends of themachine.

The cross rod 47 al'fords a rnounting forv a tension head 51 in the form of a flattenedsquare block which carries a pair of for-' wardly extending tensionrods 52and 53,

each of L-shaped formation, and having a laterally turned terminal portion 54 constituting lower and upper guide fingers between which the cables are united and tight- 1y held by a severe tension imposed in a man y hangers 48 depending ner presently to be described. The tension rods 52 and 53 may be adjusted relatively in and out with respect to one another to afford an offset in the line of travel of the cabled'strand,'and in order tomore firmly reinforce the tension fingers and hold them againstdisplacement, a relatively stiff and rugged arm 55 is employed which is adjustably mounted upon the rod 47 and provided near its outer end witha slot 56 which receives the lower of the two tension fingers 54.

A link 57 connects the end of the arm 55 with the upper finger 54, so thatb'y' adjusting the tension rods52 and 53 to the desired n positions, and by tightening'the arm 55 upon the rod 47, the'tension fingerswill be held 7 rigidly in adjusted'relation. with respect to one another and in a manner adapted to withstand the heavy tension required to prevent any ldnking of the strand in process of cabling. The cabledstrand passes up and over-airguide' rod 58 carriedby a forwardly extending arm 59 secured to a journal bracket;60,' which journals a stub shaft 61 carrying ajtoothed roller 62 having rows of teeth or prongs which biteinto the undersurface of the cable and serves to draw the same under heavy tension, which is resisted by the offset tension fingers 54 below which the stranding operation is going on.- v

In order to hold the strand in firm contact with the toothed roller 62, an idle'roller 63 is provided whichi's mounted upon a shaft 64 carried at each end between swinging arms 65, the rear end of each arm being pivotally mounted upon a bracket arm 65. The

ioo

shaft is drawn down by heavy coil springs t 66, the lower ends of whichare secured to the cross plate 495.

The shaft'6l is carried through ajournal box 67 formed on-the upper-end of the up right 50, and the outer end of the shaft carries a spur gear 68 in train with the spur gear 69, which latter is carried by a stub shaft 70' having'thereon a -worm gear 71 meshing with a worm 72 near the upper end of a verticaldrive shaft 73, the lower end of which is journaled within a journal hanger bracket 74Vand carries a bevel pinion -75 meshing with a driving bevel pinion 76 at the outer end of a horizontal drive shaft 77 p l which is adapted to be engaged by a clutch 78 with a constantly rotating pulley 79 located beneath the table'lO. i

The shaftv 7 3 may be rotated by hand, if

required, through the provision of bevel gears '80 and181,the latter of which is mounted upona -shaft 82 j ournaled within a bracket 83on the side of'the'upright 50, the shaft 82 being slidable within the bracket 83. A hand wheel 84 is provided at the outer end of the shaft 82 and'a spring 85 is interposed betweenthe hub of the hand wheel and, the bracket 83 and serves normally to hold'the. bevel gears 80 and 81 out of mesh, but per-e 9K av mits intermeshingiby an-inward; thrust upon the hand wheel, so that the tensioning devices may be operated byhand inthe threading of the machine, or as'occasion may require for any other purpose. e

8 In order to stop the machine when the tension is released, and either ofthe weights 38 drops to its lowermost position, the following mechanism is provided: g The bed platelO is provided near one corner thereof with apost 86,to the upperend of which is pivoted a swinging bar 87, the'free end of which is forced inwardly-by the, action of a coil'spring 88which encircles the post 86. The free end of the swinging arm bears against the upper end of alatch rod 89 (Fig. 6) provided with a latch tooth 90. The latch rod extends upwardly through a slot 91 in the upper flange 92 of a bracket93 which is securedlto the forward edge of the bed platelO. i.

The rod also extends through an aperture 9% in the swinging arm 87, and when in normal position, the latchtooth 90 wil-lengage the inner margin ofthe slot 91, so'that the latch rod will remain elevated, as 6, against the tension-of a coil spring 95 which tends to force the latch rod downwardly. The arm 87 is provided with a flange 96 which isso disposed as to lie within the path of movement of the cars 39 on the tension Weights 38 when intheir lowermost positions, so that when either of the weights drops, through a releaseof'the tension, the proximate ear 39, whenthe weight comes around, will engage the flange 96 on the swinging arm and force the arm outwardly against spring tension, thereby throw-ing back the latch rod 89 and releasingthe tooth which permits the rod to drop downwardly.

arm 97 on a rock shaft 98 carried :by the hanger 99. The rock shaft isprovided'witha yoke 100, the arms of which engagew-ith a clutch collar 101 on the shaft 77, so that when the latch rod is kicked 05 by the dropping of the tension weight, it will result in a swinging back of the yoke 100 which releases the clutch and stops the action of the machine.

In operation, a pair of spools each carrying one of the strand cables coiled thereon are mounted upon-the spindles 27,, which are normally held against rotation by the en gagement of the dogs with the ratchet teeth on the rotatable platforms 28. The ends of the twocables are threaded through the apertures in the respective vertical guide bar '37 and. through the weights and thenceupward;

1y through guide lugs e3 andin converging relation to the point :where the stranding op eration takes place,

under one another to form the untwisted strand until a suflicient .length has been stranded together to bring "the end over the 1 Inbuildingup At this point, thecables are laid over and toothed tension feed wheel 1 and under the spring pressed roller 63. .The tension fingers will beadjustedto give a sulficient ofiset to the line of travel of the strand to strongly resist the pull of the toothed tension wheel 62, and in order to secure the desired rate of feeding, the gear wheels 68 and 69 are selected having a proper gear ratio to give the. intended feeding rate in ratio. to the revolving motion of thecoiler heads.- Thereafter, the latch rod 89 maybe drawn upwardly and latched which will throwin the clutch and startthe f operation of the machine.

As the turntable rotates, the coiler heads in their revolutions will be subjected. to a compensating reverse rotation through the' action of the planetary gearing, which rotation will beicommensurate withthe revolu:

tion ofthe coilerihead, so that the latterwill constantly present the same side forwardly.

As the strandingoperation proceeds, the. weights will be gradually lifted by the un coiling ofthe respective cables from the spools until the upper edge of a tension weight is brought into contact with theassociated loop 45 which will lift the draw rod 46 and disengage theftoothed end of the dog which will release the spool and allow it toturnsufii-" ciently to feed forward a shortlength of cable, the slack in which will be immediately taken up bythe weight, and this uncoiling is the only rotation which is imparted to the spool independentlyof the coiler head upon which it is mounted, but this unwinding ro 'tation will not impart a twist to the fiat ice cable, so that the two fiat cables or engaged constituents of the strand will never be sub- I j ected to any axial twisting movement, .but Wlll be laid flatwlseover and under one an- 1 other, so that they will also present the same The lower end of the rod is'pivoted to an side outwardly which results in the formation of a flat two cabled strand which willretain its flat character, thereby exposing a and the arrangement of the drive mechanism, although it will be understoodthat every- 7 thing whichv has been heretoforedescribed 1s induplicate, with the exceptlonof certain of the mountings and feedings, which as shown in the figures, are commonto the two a strandvof theflat character in questiom-itis necessary to subject the strand-to a very heavytension in order to cause a uniform back and forth bending of they cables, and thisresult is accomplished by the means-provided for securing a very strong or powerful feeding tension, Which is restricted by the ofi'set tension fingers so as to confine the cabling to the point of convergence below the lowermost of the tension fingers with theresult that the constituents of the strands are compelled to Weave in and out in front of and behind one another at,

this point which results in a smooth, uniform and perfect strand, the constituents of which lie in, flatWiserelation in such a ay as to present a maximum exposure of surface, thus enabling the building up of a definite or predetermined surface pattern in the completed rug.

I I claim:

' 1; In a stranding machine, the combination of a turntable, rotating coiler heads carried 7 .by the turntable,'spoolsmounted upon the coiler heads, escapement means carried'by the coiler heads for'intermittently releasing the spools to permitrotationthereof, means for rotating the turntable, and means for reversely rotating the coiler heads, substantially as described.

2. In a stranding machine, the combination of a turntable, rotating coiler heads carried tuated by the rotation of theturntable, subbythe turntable, spools mounted upon the coiler heads, escapement means carried by the coiler heads for intermittently releasing the spools to permit rotation thereof, means for rotating the turntable, and means for reversely rotating the coilerfheads at a rotatorial speed equal to that of the turntable, said means including planetary gearing acstantially as described. 1

spectively between the fixed center gear and each ofthe coiler headgears, all of said gears being of equal size,.substantially as described. 4. In a stranding machine, the combination of afturntable, rotating coilerlheads carried the turntable, spools mounted upon thecoiler heads, escapement means carried by said rotatingcoiler heads for intermittently releasing the spools to permit rotation thereof, a slidable vveight carried by each of the coiler heads in proximate relation to the spool and adapted to be lifted by the out running cable delivered from the spool, means actuatedby the lifting of the weight to a predetermined point for actuatingthe 388001511366."

escapement mechanism, means for rotating the turntable, and meansfor 'reversely rotating the coiler. heads, substantially as de- I scribed; v c

5. In a stranding machine, the combination of a turntable, rotating coiler heads carried by the turntable, spools mounted upon the coiler heads, escapement means carried by said rotating coiler heads forintermittently releasing the spools to permit rotation thereof, a slidable Weight carried by each of the coiler heads in proximate relation to the spool and adapted to be lifted by the out running cable delivered from the spool, means actu ated by the lifting of the Weight to a predetermined point for actuating the associated escapement mechanism, means for rotating.

7 the turntable, and means for reversely rotatmg the coiler heads, said means including:

planetary gearing actuated by the rotation of the turntable, substantially as described.

6. In a stranding machine',the combination of a turntable, rotating coiler heads carried a by the turntable, spools. mounted upon the coilerheads, escapement means carried by" said rotating coiler heads for intermittently releasing the spool'sto permit rotation there of, a slldable Weight carried by each of the coiler heads in proximate relation to the'spool and adapted to be lifted by'the out running cable delivered from the spool, means actuated by the lifting of the Weight to a predetermined point for actuating the associated escapement mechanism, means for rotating the turntable, and means for reversely rotating the coiler'heads, said means including a fixed center'gear, a gear fixed to each of the coiler heads and journaledwithin the turntable,

and intermediate gears journaled to the turntable and located respectively between the fixed center gear and each'ofthe coiler head gearssubstantially as described.

7. In a stranding machine, the combiner tion of a turntable, rotating coiler heads 10- tatably carried by the turntable, spools mounted on the coiler heads, an escapement device carried by eachcoilerhead for the as sociated spool for permitting intermittent limited rotation thereof, a'weight slidably mountedon each of the coiler heads in lateral proximity to the spool mounted thereon and adapted to be lifted by the out running cable delivered fromythe spool carried thereby, a

connection for each of the escapement devices positioned to be liftedby the lifting of the associated Weight beyond predetermined.

point and adapted to release the escapement,

means for rotating the turntableandmeans 7 for rotating the coiler heads on their axes on the turntable, substantially as described 8. In a stranding machine, thecombinetion'of a turntable,'coiler heads rotatably carried by the turntable, spools mounted on the coiler heads, an escap'ement device carried by each coiler head for the associated spool for permitting intermittent limited rotation thereof, a weight slidably mounted on each of the coiler heads in lateral proximity to the spool mounted thereon and adapted to be lifted by the out running cable delivered from the spool carried thereby, a connection for each of the escapement devices positioned to be lifted by the lifting of the associated weight beyonda predetermined point and adapted to release the escapement, means.

for rotating the turntable, means for reversely rotating the coiler heads on their axes on the turntable, tension guide members adapted to afford an offset passage for the strand cables, a feeding roller beyond the tension guide members for drawing forward the.

strand, and means for applying pressure to hold the strand against the feeding roller, substantially as described.

9. In a stranding machine, the combination of a turntable, coiler heads rotatably carried by the turntable, spools mounted on thecoiler heads, an escapement device carried by each" coiler head for the associated spool for'permitting intermittent limited rotation thereof,

a weight slidably mounted on each of the coiler heads in lateral proximity to the spool mounted thereon and adapted to be liftedby the out running cable delivered from the spool carried thereby, aconnection for each of the escapement devices positioned to be .lifted by the lifting of the associated weight beyond a predetermined point and adapted to release the escapement, means for rotating the turntable, means for reversely rotating the coiler heads on their axes on, the turntable, tension guide members adapted to afford an offset passage for the strand cables, a feeding roller beyond the tension guide memhere for drawing forward the strand, and

means for applying pressure to hold the strand against the feeding roller, substantially as described. 7 V

10. In a stranding machine, the combination of a rotatably mounted turntable, rotating coiler heads carried by the turntable, a spool carried by each of the coiler heads, a guide plate upstanding from each of the coiler heads, aweight slidably mounted upon the guide plate and adapted to afford a passage for the cable delivered from the spool and to be lifted by the tension on the out running cable, clutch control-led driving elements for imparting rotation to the turntable, and

means adapted to be actuated by the rotation of the turntable and the individual rotation of either of the weights when lowered by release of tension thereon for disconnecting the clutch to stop the rotation of the turntable, substantially as described.

11. In a stranding machine, the combination of a rotatably mounted turntable, ro-

tating coiler heads carried by the turntable,

a spool carried by each of the coiler heads, a guide plate upstanding from each of the coiler heads, a weight slidably mounted upon,

theguide plate and adapted to afford a passage for' the' cable delivered from the .spool and to be liftedby the tension on the out running cable, clutchcontrolled driving elements for imparting rotation to: the. turntable,"

means adapted to be actuatedby the rotation of the turntable and, the individual rotation of either of the weights when lowered by-release of tension thereon for disconnecting the clutch to-stop the rotation'of the turntable,

said means including a spring pressed swinging arm provided with a member .adaptedto be engaged by either weight when lowered, a latch .rod'associated with said arm and adapted to be held in latched relation thereby and.

to. be unlatched when the arm is swung outwardly by engagement of the. weight," and connections actuated by the ;unlatchingof the latch rod for unclutching the driving mechanism, substantially as described.

a 12. In a stranding mach ne, the combination of a rotatably mounted.turntable',- clutch controlled driving means forrotating the turntable, a yoke member adapted to actuate the clutch, a rock shaft bywhic htheyoke is carried, an arm outstanding from the rock shaft,;a spring actuated latch rod upstanding livered from-thecoiler head, the weights occu pying a position when lowered to engage with-the swinging arm andmove the latter outwardly to unlatch the latch rod and efiect an unclutching of the driving mechanism, substantially as described. i I

. 13.. In a stranding machine, the 1 combination of a bed plate, a rotatablymounted t-urntable thereon provided with a down-turned marginal flange havinggear teeth around its periphery, gear. elements in mesh With-saidgear teethfor rotating the turntable, a fixed center gear around which the turntable rotates, a pair ofequally spaced coiler heads rotatably mounted on the turntable, a gear fixedly carriedby each of. the coiler heads,

and intermediate gears interposed respec-- tively between the center gear and each of the coiler head gears for lmpartmg reverse. ro-

tation to each: of the coiler heads, said gears being of equalsize and contained inthe space between the bed plate and turntable, substantially as described.

' 14. In a stranding machine, the combination of a rotatably mounted turntable provided wth gear teeth around its periphery,

gear elements in mesh with said gear teeth for rotating the turntable, a fixed center gear around which the turntable rotates, a pair 'of-equally spaced rotating coiler heads rotatably mounted on the turntable, a gear .fixedly carried by each of the coiler heads, intermediate gears interposed respectively between the center gear and each of the-coiler head gears for imparting reverse'rota'tion to each of the coiler l1eads,.saicl gears being of equal size, a boss carried by each of the rotating coiler heads, a toothed platform 'rotatably mounted on each of said bosses, a dog pivoted above each of said coiler heads and provided withactooth engaging with the teeth thereof,

a guide member upstanding from each of the rotating'coiler heads in proximate relation to the-dog, a weight slidably mounted upon said guide member, and a connection for each dog extending upwardly along the guide member and adapted to beengaged bythe weight when lifted to a predetermined degreeto effect a release of the dog and an escapement of the described. 7 V

15. In a stranding machine, the combination of a rotatably mounted turntable, coiler I heads rotatably mounted thereon and spools I carried bysaid coilerheads and" means for convergingly guiding a pair of strand constituent cables delivered from the spools, said guiding means including a pair of spaced tension fingers in offset relation to one another as respects the line ofrfeed of the strand, said I fingers: being relatively adjustableto; vary the degree to which they are oiiset with respect to thefeeding line, and means located above said fingers for exerting atension on the completedstrand, substantially as -de-' scribed. 16. In a stranding machine, the combination of a rotatably mounted turntable, coiler heads rotatably mounted thereon and spools carried by said coiler heads and means for convergingly guiding a pair of strand constituent cables delivered'from the spools, said guiding means including a pair of spaced tension fingers in offset relation to one another as respects the line of feed of the strand, said fingers belng relatively adjustable tovary the degreeto which they are offset with respect to the feeding line, and meanslocated above said fingers for exerting a tension on the completed strand, said means including a toothed roller and a spring pressed roller for exerting pressure against said toothed roller, and means for positively rotating the'toothed roller, substantially as described.

ALBERT F. CLEMENTS;

platform, substantially as 

